Trap-door for railway-cars and similar structures.



I E. P. GHAEFEB. TRAP DOOR FOR RAILWAY CARS AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES.

Arm'mmox FILED :pm 1'1, 190e.

Patentsd Bec. 7, i909.

2 SHEETf-SHEBT l.

E. I'. GHAFFEE.

TRAP Doon F0111 EMLWAY aus AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES.'

l 1 APPLIUATIoN'HLBD JUNE 17, 1909. Q l

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented. Dec. 1909.

y il

EDWARD F. CHAFFEE, Olli' artnr erica.

.freer-'noon non RAILWAY-cans ann slierten' sr'sucrnnns.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented llico. i909.'

city ot NewYork, State of NewYork, have invented certain new andusei'ul Improve' ments in Trap-Doors for Railway-Cars and Similar Structures, of which the following.

is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being, had to the drawings accompany 111g the same.'

This invention relates generally to the. construction ot' metal trap doors for cars and` similar structures, such for instance, as are used to cover and uncover the steps leading to-and from the end platforms of passenger cars. v l

. One of its objects is to provide a light, stron g, easily constructed and readily cleaned metal door of this general class; another object is to constructv such a door of a plurality of plates which 'arearranged in portions having separating means between such portions such a door withV the parts so arranged that a portion of suchparts vform reinforci-n means forA another portion with the expose surfaces ot such portions .substantially smooth, so that the under surface of the door is readily cleaned upon the opening of lthe 'door toprevent soiling the clothing of passengers in leaving or entering'the car.

With these obgects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter morefully described and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed and forming a part of this specification.

lt ha. been' found in use .that trap' doors such as are conunonly used in passenger cars to cover the steps by which passengers enter and leave the 'cars not only have to be made very strong but it is 'very desirable that'such.

doors be comparatively light in weight so that they can be easily andquickly opened and closed at stations. It is, also desirable that Asuch doors should occupy as little space as possible. when opened and present substantially a smooth under surface which can be quicklt7 .and easily cleaned.

lt has been found that trap doors when closed accumulate niore or less dust and dirt on their under sides while the train is in motion and it is desirable to wipe oli such another object isvto so construct.

v sppiication'aied-Junerr, 190e. serial no.. 502,697.

dirt and dust upon the opening of the same, so thatthe clothing ot passengers will not be soiled when brought in contact therewith on entering or leaving the cars. This cleaning or wiping oit the under surface of trap doors has to be done on' the opening of the same and it is necessary that it done quickly vand eectively so as not to delay the ltrains at stations. .In order to do this work quickly and with little expenditure of time and money the under surface of the door has to be substantially smooth protuberances or projections to interfere with the wiping or cleaning operation. These trap doors like the vestibule platform or ioors, wherev theyo are used, commonly receive a covering usually in the form of a and without any p tiling, with a surface adapted to prevent i those using the 'cars from slipping thereon. The upper surfaces ot' the doors are usually substantially flush with or inline with the rest of the platforms in which they are used. Figure l shows in plan view a door and a section of a car or vestibule platform illustrating generally the door when in the closed position, a portion of the upper covering or tiling being broken away. Fig. 2 shows in cross section of Fig. l. Fig. 3 shows in cross section and on an enlarfed scale that which is seen at the left of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: shows in cross section on line 4.-4 of Fig. l, which is arranged at right angles to thesection shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 shows in plan view a modified form oi' arrangement of parts wherein a plurality of plates or parts may be used for forming a substantially smooth surface for one side ot' the door. Fig. 6 shows a plan view of a lnodiiied construc-` tion of door, and Fig. 7 shows in section on ,line 7 7 ot' Fig. 6 that which is there shown.

Like letters of reference, wherever they occur, indicate corresponding parts of the several figures of the drawings.

In Figs. l to el, inclusive, A represents the car or vestibule platform in which vthe door B is hung so as to be opened and closed by.

that which is seen on line 2-2 Y edges of the plates C and D as shown in Fior; V21, the free edges of the hinge portion bent up an le pieces Z2, b and b2, ada ted to receive an lhold the plates C and such plates being secured` together by rivets as shown, or in any other desired manner which the constructor sees fit to use. These bent up angle parts are preferably made in U shape and preferably receive the edges of both the plates C and D on three sides of the door. The hinge portion E is preferably made to extend substantially across the rear edge ofthe door and also to receive the rear preferably imbeing, brought into position to receive the plates and holdth-em in contact with one another and such hinge portion.

l-beveled edge portions in conformity with thatwhich is set forth in Letters Patent No, 847,559, dated March 19, 1907 for trap door bindings, so that the door may be readily opened without undue bindingin' the opening of the platform andalso receive and aid in holding the extreme outer edgesfof the tiling in place, as shdwn or otherwise as is desired. Any form of tiling or tread surface, as F, ma be used on the upper surface of the plate that is desired. f

As shown, the separating means G, preferably made in a single piece, is interposed between the plates C and l) and necessarily forms reinforcing means when the plates are secured together with such means arranged between them. The plates C, D and such means are preferably secured together as shown, or otherwise as the constructor desires, as for instance, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, Where such means are secured to only one plate or portion, but such means is in-v terposed between the two plates or two portions of plates to reinforce and strengthen the door. lVhen such means and plates are j secured together a compound truss 1s formed,

that is, a structure which. embodies the principle of a truss in tulov directions, one.

at right angles to the other.' as seen in Figs. 2 an ormed in such plate. As shown7 the late D is much thinner than plate C an the means inter osed between them is neces-' sarily "of litt e Weight as all strains thereon are ofa compression nature, or such as` tend 4i. A door constructed on this p rinci-v ple is exceedingly strong land comparatively to crush such means. -These reinforcing and separating means may be of'any desired form, construction and arrangement, relatively. tn the plates the constructor sees fit to employ, so long asthey are `adapted to do the work they do in the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated. As shownl the plate D forms a substantially smooth surface for the under side of the doorwhichis adapted to be readily wiped off and cleaned by the person in charge'of the v-car uponthe opening of the same for the ingress or egress;l

of passengers.

, Instead of' constructing the'. door out ofv two plates as shown in `preceding figures they maybe madel with a greater number, as the constructor desires.v If desired, the under side of the door for instance may be Iliade up lof a plurality of plates as shown in Fig; 5 and vyet have the same reinforcing or compound ltruss action present as is thecase when only one plate, as D, is employed.

. ln theconstruction seen in Fig. 5 there is aV plate H for the top part 4of' the door `and a plate l for a portion of the under side of the door Whichextend from the hinge edge of the door to' the front edge thereof, This.

plate H is preferably of about the size of the door and the 'platel is preferably of about the Width of the reinforcing or sepa- `rating'means G. There is also'a plate J formingv another portion of the under side of the door 'which extends vfromy o n'e side edge tothe other side edge thereofat right angles to the platel and it is also preferably of about. the Width of the separatlng means shown. Plates I and J 'are shown as of sub# stantially the widthof the reinforcing means' G seen in Figsl to 4. There are no specialdies or machines required forgiving the necessarybendsor shape tothese' plates I and .l in order to have the ends thereof readily contact with the edges of the plate Hiand receive hinging and binding means similar to what is shown in preceding figures. When the plates I, J, 'H and the reinforcingor separating means Gr are secured together after the manner shown lin Figs.` l to 4, there is the same truss actionin this construction as there is in the construction seen in pre# ceding figures. The reinforcing means G necessarily holdthe plates I and J some distance away from the plate H and such plates I and'J yform a substantially smooth under surface forthe door which is quickly and conveniently vcleaned on the openingl of the saine turevent the clothingof passengersbeing soi ed entering or leaving the car.. The spaces at the corners of the under side" ofthe plate H not covered by theplatesl and J are some little distance. from the outer surfaces of such plates'and consequently the clothin of those enterin and leaving the car will naturally notbe rought` in contact with these portionsy `of the plate H and'be ing means G seen in 'ployeth as for `terposed between the upper G2 interposed .D2 reinforces and strengthens the door and separates soiled by any-dirt that may be on such plate.

lf desired, these spaces inay be filled in any known manner.

Thereiiiforcing means, G, which is inand under. plates of the door may be ot any desired Atorni or construction, so-long as the plates are properly separated and embody the principle olf The oor illustratedv in Figs. 6 and i?p is somewhatnarrower in width than it is lengthwise' or 'from the hinge edge to the liront edge thereof and as shown it is made up of two plates of substantially the saine width and length, the under plate@2 being-much thinner than. the upper one C2. The' ineans between these plates C2 and the two plates one troni the other and the' door einbodiesSaid truss principle. These means are'shown as being bent up out of sheet inet-al. into angular forni, as is clearly seen in Fig. .7 and the saine are preferably' secured to "the plate .C2 by rivets, as shown, or in` any other suitable manner.

These reinforcing means consist, shown,

of two parts,.each of which extends substantially across the width of the door or 'Jia "als

The plates C2- 'gether at .the 'liront and rearedges of the ployed to or 'botlro the plates vflatlyv desired form-ot hinging means may be fromside to' side thereof and' such parts aresoine little distance'apart so as to' separate the plates and reinforce the door as shown.

and D2 are only secured Vtodoor, the plates atthe side edges of the door being se 'aratedas shown in Fig. 'i'. Suit'- able binding' orifreiiiingnieans may be einbind and'toi'in a' instance as is seen in preceding figures, or

otherwise fire desii'ed, such binding or traninieansprelerably' being arranged so as to rec ethe eXtreme front and rear edges C 'and D2 as shown.

employed as for instancel th'eforni shown in preceding figures or any other that the con- 'structor sees fit to employ.` i 4 ln each loi the embodiments hereinshown the i'neai'iswhi rh reinforce or strengthen the 'eentialfpdrtieiis of'the'doer are arranged so ,as to actthereon between the points vwhere y. v'the door is supported in .ftne

y' -theembodinients herein shown the under '-.siirface oi'the door 'is sub1. Iantifally smooth y platform. n

and consequently readily and Quickly wiped ontq or. cleaned upon the opening or `the saine.

'surface i freine for the` front and side edges ol: the door, such for Whatl have herein shown and described will naturally suggest to others skilled iii this art other embodiments of this invention and also inodilications inthe constructioii` and arrangements of parts wherein substantially the saine results may be accomplished by coinbinations`orn elements or devices having essentially the same mode of operation as the combinationshave that are part-icularly pointed outin the claims hereunto annexed', hence l do not wish to limit my iiirention to the'speciic ioiins and arrangesire to include all forms and arrangements which embody the spirit et' my invention and which ha ve substantially the saine niode of operation as do the specih'c parts and arrangements herein set forth;

What l desire to claiin as new is l.. A platform trap door couiprisiiign plurality of plates arranged in tivo portions and adapted to be secured-together and to lhingeineens and' foi-in substantially a fiat J1or one side of the doornnd substantially a sniooth surface for the other side, which portions are secured together with means arranged between them in position to reinforce and stillen the central portions ot. the door and hiiiging means secured to the plurality of plates for hingiiig the door in the platform.

'2. A platform trap door 4comprising a plurality 'of plates arranged iii-two portions, one portion of which forms a substantially Hat surface and another portion forms substantially a smooth surface, such surfaces being opposite onev curedy together with 'means arranged between them in position to reinforce and' Asti'en the centralipoiftions of the door.

3. A platforii'i trap door comprising a plurality ott plates arranged in two portions which are secured together and to hingiirgr ineens and forni ,a substantially tlat surface for one side of the door and substantially a' smooth surface for the runder side ot the door, siich portions being secured together in such manner that the two portions are nearer to each other near the edge of the door than they are toward the center thereof with means arranged between, such portions in position to reinforce aiidstillen the central portions of the door.

4. r'lwplatforin trap door .comprising a plurali, i' of'plates arraiived in .two portions, oneo which forms substantially a flat surface to receive thetiling 'for the door aiid another and beingl se-l ments herein shown Aand described, but deioo iis,A

the other forins substantiallya smooth unfder surface of the'door, which portions aire .secured vtogether with means arranged be-` v tween them iii position for such ineans unil ortion of siioh'platesto reinforce. 'and stiv i'en the "central portions of the door and tl shaped binding ineens `secured to the side and front edges of the door.

heldsubstantially hat, hinge adapted for hingin'g the'doorl in the platform, and means adaptedto secure the two 5. In a platform trap door the combination, .substantially as set forth, of a plurality of plates, means adapted to separate one portion of such platesfrom another portion andv thereby reinforce the central portions of the door, hinge" portions adapted to hinge the door in the platform, and means adapted to secure the plates together adjacent to the edges ofthe door with separating means b etween the two portions ofI s aid plates.`

6.- ln 'a platform trap door the combination, substantially as set forth,lof aplurality of plates, one portion of. which is thinner than another, means adapted to separate one portion from theother, and thereby reinforce the door, one of which portions is portions portions of the plates together adjacent to the edges thereof with the reinforcing means arranged relatively to the door to stiifen and lstrengthen the same.

ln a platform trap door the combination, substantially as set forth,"of a plurality of plates, one portion of which is thinner than another, reinforcing means adapted to sepa-rate one portion from another-with one -of suchportlons substantially flat and the other arranged at acute angles to the flat portion, hlnge portions adapted for hinging Vthe door in' the platform, and means adapted for securing the portions together with the reinforcing means arranged relatively to thedoor to stiv'ffen 'and strengthen the In a platform trap door the combination, substantially as set forth, of two plates, reinforcing-.means adapted to separate the centralportions 'thereof one of which is substantially liat,'hinge portions adapted to ,hinge the door in the platfo1in,1neans adapted to secure the plates together adjacent to the edges thereof' with the reinforcing means arranged to stilfen and strengthen thedoor.

t). ln a platform trap door thecombina tion, 'substantially as set forth, of aplurality of plates, one portion of which is adapted to receive the tiling for the door and the other is adapted to form a substantiallyI smooth under surface for theI doorreinforc1ng means adapted to separate oneportionfrom another portion, hinge portions adapted for hinging the door in vthe platform, bindingl 55 means for the front and side edges of the door, 'and 'means adapted to lsecure .the-binding means and plates together andv holdthem'with thereinforcing means arranged relatively-'to the platesfor stiffening and strengthening the same.

l0. In'a platform trap .door the combination, substantially as set forth, of a pluralityA of plates, reinforcing means adapted to separate one portionfrom .another portion which vportions yare so arranged relatively thereto that such reinforcing means tends to hold one portion of the plates against bendingwhen the plates are securedtogetlier, and means'adapted tosecure the plates together with there'inforcing means arranged in position to stien and strengthen the door.

1l. In a platform trap door the combination, substantially as set forth, of a plurality of plates, means adapted to separate one portion from another portion which `portions are so arranged that such separating means and one portion of the plates, when the plates are secured together, reinforces and strengthens the other portion, U shaped binding means for lthe front and .side edges of the door, and means adapted to secure the plates'and binding means together With the separating means between such portions,

whereby the door is reinforced and strengthenedl at its central and edge portions.

12. In a platform trap door the combination, Substantially as set forth, of a plurality of plates. arranged in two portions, a single piece of material adapted to separate the central portions of the plurality of plates, means adapted to secure lthe plates together with such single piece between them, and hinging means adapted to hingethe door in the platform, whereby the door is reinforced and strengthened.

13. In a platform trap door the combination, substantially as set forth, of a plurality of plates, one portion'of which is adapted to form onemember of a compound truss and the other is adapted to form another member of -such truss, means arranged between the AtwoA members and adapted to separate" A arate them, one from the other, andy-securing' means adapted to secure tovether such members and means-arranged between them, whereby the plates are held against bending in two directions, one at an angle to the other.

tion, substantially as set forth, of a lu'ralvity of plates, one lportion of which yis a apted to form one member of a compound truss and.,

15. In a'yplatform 'trap doei` the combinal the Aother portion is adapted toform another l member having a substantiallysithooth sur.- faee, means arranged betweenv themembers `and adapted to separate them, one from the other, and securing means adapted to secure ltltl esami together such members and means arranged between them, whereby the plates held against bending in two directions, one at an angle to the other.

16. ln a platform trap door the combination, substantially as set forth,

of a plurality lof plates a portion of which form a flat surface adapted toserve as one side ofthe door and another adapted to form a smooth surface for the other` side of the door, means 17. In a plat-form trap door the combination, substantially as set forth, of a plurality of plates, one portion of which is adapted. to form a flat surface for one side of the door and another portion is bent to form a substantially smooth surface for the other side of the door, means adapted to be interposed between the two portions of the plate for reinforcing and stiii'ening the door, and securing means adapted to secure the plurality of plates and interposed means together, where: by the plates are held and reinforced against bending.

18.. ln a platform trap door the combination, substantially as set forth, of a lurality of plates, one portion of which is a apted to form a flat surface for one side of the door and another portion is adapted to form a substantially smooth surface for the other side of the door, means adapted to be interposed between the two portions of plates for reinforcing and sti'lfening the door, securing means adapted to secure the two portions of the plates together, binding means secured to the front and side edges of the door and adapted to stilfen the same, and hinging means adapted to hinge the door to the platform, whereby both the cent-ral and edge portions of the door are reinforced and stiifened against bending.

19. In a platform trap door the combiuation, substantially as set forth, of a plurality of plates one portion of which is adapted to form flat surface for one side of the door ,andanother portion is adapted to 'form a substantially smooth surface for the other side of such door, reinforcing means adapted to be interposed between the two portions of the plates `and separate the same, binding means adapted to receive and hold the front and side edges of the two portions of the plate and be secured thereto, means to secure the plates and binding means together with the reinforcing means interposed between the plates, whereby the plates are held and reinforced against bending.

'20. In a platform trap door the combination, substantially as setforth, of a plurality of plates one portion of which is adapted to adapt ed bther, when the two Imeans adapted to secure the plates and iii-- forni one side of the door and another portion is adapted to form 4a substantially smooth surface for the other side of the door, reinforcing means adapted to be interposed between the two portions of the plates, hinge means adapted to hinge the door in the platform and strengthen the rear edge of such door, binding means adapted to secure the plates together at their front and side edges and securing means adapted to secure the binding means and plates together, whereby both the central and edge portions of the door are reinforced and stiffened. c

2l. ln a platform tra-p door the combina. tion, substantially as set forth, of a plurality of plates, means adapted to be inter' posed between the plates to separate one portion from another, which portions are so arranged relatively to the interposed means that such portions are held and reinforced against bending when such portions and means 'are secured together, ll shaped bind ing means adapted to receive the side and front edges of the plates and hold and stitfen the same, and means adapted to secure together the two portions, the interposed means and the binding means, whereby bot-h the central and edge portions of the door are reinforced and stitliened.

22. ln a platform trap door the combination, substantially forth, of a plurality of plates, means adapted to be interposed between the plates to sepa-rate one portion from another, which portions are so arranged relatively to the interposed means that such portions are held and reinforced against bending, when such portions and means are secured together, binding means adapted to extend above the top plate and receive the front and side edges of the tiling, means adapted to secure the binding means and plates together' with the interposed means between the plates, whereby both the central and edge portions of the plates are held and reinforced against bending.

23. In a. platform trap door the combination substantially as set forth, of two plates, means adapted to be interposed between the plates and so arranged relatively thereto that such means separates one plate from the other, when the two are secured together, and means adapted to secure the plates and interposed means together, whereby the plates are reinforced and stilfcned against bending.

24. In a. platform trap door the combina.- tion, substantially as set forth of two plates, means adapted to be interposed between the plates and so arranged rela-tively thereto that such means.- separate one plate from the are secured together,

terposed means together, a hinge portion adapted for hlnging the door in the platform which portion entends substantially iio across and 'receives the rear .portion of the plates and means. adapted to secure' the hinge portion and plates together, whereby the central portion and rear edge portion of the plates are reinforced and still'enedagainst bending.

25. In a plat orm trap door the combination, substantially as set forth, of two plates,

means adapted to be interposed between the plates and 'so arranged relatively thereto that such means separate one plate from the' other, when the two are secured-together, a hinge portion adapted to hinge the doorfto the platform and extend substantially across the door and receive the rear portions of the plates, binding means adapted to bind and stilfen the side and front edges of the door, and means adapted to secure the binding means, the hinge portion and plates together, whereby the plates are reinforced and strengthened at the central and edge portions thereof.

26. In a platform trap doorthe combination, substantially as set forh of two plates,

one of which is adapted to- Aorm one side of the door and the other is bent and thereby adapted to Contact with the other plate andform a substantially smooth surface for that esami f and` edge portions of the plates are held and' reinforced against bending.

27. In a pl"v tform vtrap doorI tion, substantially as set forth, of a plurality of plates, means adapted to be interposed between the plates and so `arranged relaasfv the .eombinai tively thereto that such meansfs parates one portion of the plates from aiit er portion, binding means adapted to be secured to the edges lof the ldoor and form a frame'there for, and securing means adaptedto secure the plates, the interposedk means and theA binding means together, whereby the central and edge portions of the door are reinforcedv and strengthened against bending.

. 'EDWARD r. CHAFFEE.

'l/Vitnesses:

HENRY F. NEWBURY, DAVID BLANK. 

